Bit of Legare Street 1928 - 1931

This etching of Legare Street in Charleston was made by Elizabeth O'Neill Verner, using only black ink. Imagine the artist creating this scene, building it up bit by bit, stroke by stroke. I love how Verner uses the etching technique to create a world of light and shadow. The fine lines and textures create a sense of depth and atmosphere, as if we're really there on Legare Street. Notice the gate, and how the etching gives it a delicate, almost lace-like quality. I can almost feel the humidity in the air, the weight of the Southern sun. I imagine Verner, standing on that street corner, squinting at the scene, trying to capture its essence, knowing that the work of one artist will forever be in conversation with the works of another. Each artist leaves their mark, building upon the ideas of those who came before, and inspiring those who will follow. That’s why a painting is never really finished, it’s always evolving, changing, and that’s exactly how it should be.